Student finds .22-caliber cartridge at Taunton's Friedman School

Wednesday

Dec 4, 2013 at 12:01 AMDec 4, 2013 at 4:06 AM

Police have yet to determine how a .22-caliber cartridge ended up on the grounds of Benjamin A. Friedman Middle School Monday afternoon.

A student at the school found the unfired ammunition lying the ground at the entrance of the school's cafeteria door, police said. Both the police department and School Superintendent Julie Hackett were immediately contacted.

Charles Winokoor

Police have yet to determine how a .22-caliber cartridge ended up on the grounds of Benjamin A. Friedman Middle School Monday afternoon.

A student at the school found the unfired ammunition lying the ground at the entrance of the school's cafeteria door, police said. Both the police department and School Superintendent Julie Hackett were immediately contacted.

An email sent by school principal Kathy Perry to parents said it appeared to have been “an isolated incident.” It also said a police “sweep” of the building had not turned up any other “items of concern” and that at least one police officer would be at the school on Tuesday “to allay and fears or concerns.”

Taunton police on Monday posted a news alert on their Facebook page describing the incident and assuring the public that they “are taking the matter seriously.”

Police Lt. Eric Nichols said there “were no specific threats” made in connection to Monday’s incident.
Nichols said one can speculate a number of scenarios as to how the bullet ended up in the school, where students attend grades five through seven.

He suggested an adult working as a contractor or a maintenance workers conceivably could have accidentally dropped the bullet. The bullet could have even fallen out of a trash bag, Nichols said.

If a suspect is arrested for leaving the bullet at the school he or she could be charged with illegal possession of ammunition and carrying contraband onto school grounds, he said.